Cow-milking apparatus



y 3 c. H. HAPGOOD 1,959,716

cow MILKING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 7, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet l SCALES I Mum(501:5 lwar'j: 64907004 M MW,

May 22, 1934. c. H. HAPGOOD COW MILKING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 7, 1951 4Sheets-Sheet 2 May 22, 1934. c HAPGOQD 1,959,716

COW MILKING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 7. 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Afro/M676.

May 22, 1934. Q HAPGOOD 1,959,716

COW MILKING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 7. 1931 4.$heets-Sheet 4 43 F76. 8.M/VE/VTOR flg f @2245 fi owara fla uf I ar y Patented May 22, 1934UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COW-MILKING APPARATUS Application October 7,

6 Claims.

In a patent issued to me December 30, 1930, No. 1,787,152, I disclose acow-milking apparatus comprising a rotatable platform onto which, duringits rotation, the cows walk one by one, and

are successively milked, the cows thereafter leaving the platform, oneby one, as the platform continues to rotate. The milking machinerycomprises a number of spaced apart milking units carr ed by, andarranged around the periphery of, the platform, and also a number offixed devices which, as the milking units rotate with the platform,successively co-operate with the milking units and render themsuccessively operative. Each milking unit, when in operation, isoperatively connected with an individual cow and comprises, in additionto the mechanism for effecting the milking, a pail to receive the milkfrom such individual cow. After the milking of a cow is completed, thecorresponding pail is brought opposite a fixed weigh tank, at which timemeans operate to effect the discharge of the milk into the tank. Afterthe weight is noted, the milk is discharged into a receiver.

The object of the present invention is to improve such part of thedescribed mechanism as relates to the discharge of the milk from thepail to the weigh tank and from the weigh tank to the receiver.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in the drawings,wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side view of the bottom of the movable pail, the fixed weightank, the means to deliver milk from the pail to the weigh tank and themeans controlling the discharge of milk from the weigh tank to thereceiver.

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the milk delivery funnel between the pail andthe weigh tank.

Fig. 3 is a face view of the means controlling the discharge of milkfrom the weigh tank to the receiver.

Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation on line 4-4 Figure 5 of the means forsupporting the pail including the conduit for discharging the milktherefrom.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the means shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is an elevation of part of the electrically actuated means forcontrolling the discharge of milk from the weigh tank.

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the rotatable platform carrying the milkingmachine units.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view through the rotatable platform and astationary weigh tank adjacent thereto, the view also showing one of themilk pails, its supporting cross frame and the means 1931, Serial No.567,337

for delivering milk from a pail to the weigh tank.

A rotatable circular platform 40 is provided with a circular beam 41having a circular track 42 resting on rollers 43. The platform iscontinuously and. slowly rotated by any suitable driv- 0; ing means.During such rotation the cows walk onto the platform, one by one, intosuccessive stalls, are successively milked, and walk off, one by one, asmore fully explained in Hapgood Patent No. 1,781,152.

Carried by the rotatable platform are a series of frames forming thestalls, these frames including posts a and cross rails 34. Each post a(see Figs. 4 and 5) has members I), c and d clamped thereon. Each hangere is immovably supported ill on clamp b by means of pin 1 and arectangular lug f on the hanger seating in holes in flanges projectingfrom clamp b. Each hanger comprises aplate g having an openingsurrounded by a recess affording a seat for a milk pail h (the lower endof which is shown in broken lines).

A discharge conduit i extends downward from each of said openings and iscurved so that its discharge end extends laterally.

Swingably suspended on the discharge end of 8&- each conduit 2 is a gateadapted to close the conduit while the milk pail is under vacuum. Thegate comprises a disc lc, a button m having a cen-' tral neck extendingthrough a central boss on disc 70, an annular elastic washer n, of aboutthe same diameter as the disc, confined between the head of the buttonand the disc, and a screw q threaded into the neck of the button andhaving a head engaging the boss on the disc whereby the washer is heldas specified.

During delivery-of the milk to a pail the pail is under vacuum and thegate is held closed by pressure of the atmosphere. When, at theconclusion of milking, the pail is disconnected from vacuum and air isadmitted at the top thereof, the weight of the milk opens the gate andthe milk is discharged therethrough. Heretofore, much difiiculty hasbeen experienced in securing an air-tight closure of the gate. Theconstruction just described affords such a closure. TM washer n may bereadily removed by removing screw q and then button 111. and may bereadily replaced, or a new washer substituted.

Means whereby, during the delivery of milk to a pail, it is held undervacuum and whereby, at the conclusion of milking, the pail isdisconnected from vacuum, are fully described and shown in my said priorPatent No. 1,787,152, and need not be herein described in detail.Briefly, it may be stated that, to begin milking a cow, a stationaryactuator 52 (see Fig. 8) turns a wheel 53 (traveling with platform whichturns a valve to open connection between a vacuum pipe line and a hose51 communicating with a milk pail h, whereby the gate at the end ofconduit 2' is held closed by pressure of the atmosphere. At about thesame time a wheel 57 is turned to operate a valve to open 'connectionfrom the teat cups 54, through milk pipe and hose 56, to the milk pailh. At the conclusion of milking the wheel 57 is turned to close theconnection, through milk pipe 55 and hose 56, from the teat cups to themilk pail, and another actuator 52 turns wheel 53 to close connectionbetween vacuum pipe 50 and hose 51 and open connection from theatmosphere, through hose 51, to'the milk pail, whereby the weight of themilk opens the gate at the end of conduit 2 and the milk is discharged.7

Any means for producing the necessary pneumatic pressure changes in thepail may be utilized.

The patent hereinbefore cited discloses preferred means foreffectingthis operation.

The discharge end of conduit 1' is provided with asurrounding steppedannular flange 0, against one of the annular shoulders, whereof issecured a spout 1) (see Fig. 1) through which the milk-is dischargedinto the funnel r.

Between the weigh. tank 10 and the spout p is fixedly positioned saidfunnel. It has a wide receiving mouth and a narrow discharge openingfitting into a. neck on the top of the weigh tank. It mustbe rememberedthat the weigh tanklO and the funnel r are fixed while thepail and itsdischarge conduit and spout are slowly but continually moving. Thereceiving mouth of. the funnel ris so positioned that the spout isopposite one end of the mouth when the gate'k, m, n, q. is first openedand is opposite the otherend. of the mouth when the gate is subsequentlyclosed. During this interval the discharge of milk from the pail iseffected; The receiving mouth of the funnel 1' must therefore be made ofsuificient width to allow the pail to be completely emptied of milkwhile the pail is moving a'distance less than the extreme width of suchmouth.

The funnel T has secured to its inclined bottom two spaced apartlaterally extending rodss having necks t adapted to engage recesses inspaced apartbrackets u carried on arms '0 clamped on posts to. Thisconstruction allows the ready re moval for cleaning of funnel r and itsready replacement,,and also insures that it will be replaced in itsproper working position, without lateral deviation.

In order to protect the funnel ragainst the dropping thereinto fromabove of any foreign material, it is provided with a shield at whichoverhangs the spout p. In order to prevent the escape of milk during-itsflow from the spout 1D 1 into the funnel r, the latter is provided withflange y underlying the spout.

The weigh tank 10, mounted on scales 11, is provided with an inclinedfalse bottom 12 align-. ing with the bottom of a spout 13 through whichthe milk is discharged into, a commonreceiver (not shown). The dischargefrom spout 13 is controlled by a gate 15, which may be similar inconstructioin to gate k, m, n, q. Spout 13 may be provided, like conduiti, with an other spout 14 for delivery to the receiver above mentioned.

This gate 15 is held closed during the inflow of milk with tank 10 and.is opened after such inflow of milk has been completed andafter. theoperator has had time to note the weight of the milk. The gate isnormally held closed by means of an arm 16 on a shaft 17 turning inbearings carried by spout 13. Arms 16 on opposite ends of shaft 17 carrythe armatures 18 of magnets 19, the magnetic circuit through which isclosed by the connecting bar 19. The magnetic circuit comprises the coreof one magnet 19 and its armature 18, shaft 17, the other armature l8and the core of the othe'r' magnet 19. and the connecting bar 19. Whenan electric circuit is closed through the magnets, gate 15 is heldclosed, as shown in Fig. 1. When the circuit is opened through themagnets, the weight of the milk opens the gate, the weight20'counterbalanoing the weight of the arms 16,16.

In Fig. 6 is shown an automatic circuit maker and breakehf A switch box21, which may be of standard type, is provided with two pins, one, 22,of which, when depressed, opens the circuit and raises the other pin 23;the latter, when depressed, closing the circuit and raising pin 22.Secured between fixed'rails.26,126 is a cross-ban 27 having brackets 28,;28,1on:wh-ich, between their ends; are respectivelypivoted levers-'24and 25, the inner, ends of whichengagerespectively pins-22and 23; Theouter end of each leverj-extends betweenforks at the upper end of a cup.29. Fromthe cups 29 depend pins 30 and 31, verticallyslidablein' bar.27 and in brackets 33, carried thereby. Within; each cup 29 is a spring32. A cross-pin v 3.7 be tween the upper extremitiesjof the forks ofeach cup limits the upwardmovement of theouter. end of the correspondinglever 24 or 25. g

Carried on the movable platform 40wherei before mentionedare aseries-bfspacedzapart switch controllers 'co1resp0nding, ,in number to themilking units.v One of these switch controllers is shown in Fig. 6.. Itcomprises a bracket 35,- clamped to a rail 34 of the rotatable platform,and a roller 36 positioned to successively engage pins.30 and 31-. j

A .sufficient time; after "milk'is delivered to the weigh tank 10 toenable its weight to be noted, roller 36 engages and lifts pin 30,thereby, lifting thecorresponding cup-.29and, through spring 32, movinglever 24 into the position shown in Fig. 6, depressing pin22, liftingpin.23 and-opening the circuit through magnets 19..v Thereupon gate 15.swings open and milk is discharged fromythe weigh tank. Shortlythereafter roller 36 engages and effects the lifting of pin 31,thBIBbYdBDIBSS-y ing' the inner end oflever 25, depressingpin' 23,lifting pin 22, and closing the circuit through magnets 19, therebyclosing gate 15. In-case roller 36 should lift pin 30 unnecessarilyhigh, the resistance afforded by pin 22 to further downward movementwould be taken up by compr'essionof spring 32. 1;:

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim and desire toprotect by Letters Patent is:

1. In a cow-milking machine, the combination with a receptacle adaptedto receivemilk at intervals, a gate adaptedto control the discharge ofmilk from the receptacle, "an electro magnet, an armature, a levercarrying the armature,;-.a gate-closing member conne'cteddwith .s'aidlever, said lever being operable, when the armature is attracted by the.maghet, to move .said gateclosing member into position to close:thegate, and means to alternately open and close the circuit through'themagnet.

2. In a cowemilking-machina-the combination with a receptacle-adapted toreceive milk at intervals; a..gate adapted to control the discharge ofmilk: from;-the ire'cept'acle, .electro-magnets on opposite ."sides.:ofsaid discharge. opening, 'arma i fb iso

tures for the respective magnets, levers carrying said armatures, an armbetween, and connected with, said levers and. adapted, when said magnetsare energized and said armatures are drawn theretoward, to be swung intoposition to hold said gate closed, and means to alternately open andclose the circuit through both magnets simultaneously.

3. In a cow-milking machine having a movable support and means formoving said support, the combination with a pail mounted on said supportand adapted to alternately receive and discharge milk, a stationaryweigh tank adapted to receive milk discharged from the pail, a gatecontrolling the discharge of milk from the weigh tank, an electro-magnetand a circuit connected thereto adapted to control the opening andclosing of said gate, and means to alternately open and close thecircuit through said magnet, said means comprising a device mounted onsaid support and movable with the pail and switch mechanism operable bysaid device.

4. In a cow-milking machine having a movable support and means formoving said support, the

. combination with a pail mounted on said support, of a gate and meansto open it at intervals and allow the discharge of milk from the pail, aspout beyond said gate through which the milk is discharged, astationary tank, a stationary funnel between the spout and the tank,said funnel having a wide receiving mouth, stationary brackets, twospaced-apart rods secured to and extending laterally of the inclinedbottom of the funnel, and coacting means on said brackets and rodsadapted to removably and replaceably support said funnel and at the sametime accurately position it relative to the spout and tank.

5. In a cow-milking machine having a movable support and means formoving said support, the combination with a series of pails mounted onsaid support, means adapted to effect the discharge of milk from saidpails successively, and a stationary weigh tank adapted to receive milkdischarged from successive pails, of devices mounted on said support andmovable with the pails, and means operable by said devices and effectingthe intermittent discharge of milk from said tank.

6. In a cow-milking machine having a movable support and means formoving said support, the combination with a series of pails mounted onsaid support, means adapted to effect the discharge of milk from saidpails successively, and a stationary weigh tank adapted to receive milkdischarged from successive pails, of devices mounted on said support andmovable with the pails, a gate controlling the discharge of milk fromthe Weigh tank, an electromagnet and a circuit connected thereto adaptedto control the opening and closing of said gate, and means to open andclose the circuit through the magnet including switch mechanismintermittently operable by said devices.

CYRUS HOWARD HAPGOOD.

